The Customer Collectivehttp://thecustomercollective.com
The Customer Collective BlogThu, 24 May 2018 10:11:53 +0000en-UShourly1121274035Would Bridging Finance be an Option for me and my Property Chain?http://thecustomercollective.com/bridging-finance-option-property-chain/
http://thecustomercollective.com/bridging-finance-option-property-chain/#respondThu, 24 May 2018 10:11:53 +0000http://thecustomercollective.com/?p=1378With the economic climate being what it is, only a lucky few can say, with a sigh of relief, that they’ve sold their old property and moved into their dream home. With mortgage terms and credit checks stricter than they’ve ever been, all it could take is one bad mortgage application for the whole chain to collapse.

This chain collapse often results in you not being able to move into your new house, leaving potential buyers for your current property stuck, and potential buyers for their property equally stuck, and so forth… A lot of the time it results in hefty financial penalties for all parties involved.

A way around this could be to lower the asking price for your property and asking the seller of the house you want to buy to lower theirs in turn. As expected, this scenario rarely runs smoothly, but it is worth bearing in mind that a lower asking price may be a small sacrifice if it saves you some psychological and financial hardships.

It’s not uncommon at this time in the property market for gazundering to make a reappearance. You could build a solid rapport with a buyer and find that at the last minute they lower their offer. If this does happen, it’s important not to feel disheartened and it’s also important to decline unreasonably low offers. It may mean that you have to explore other options and re-list your property.

To keep the chain intact in these tougher financial times, some companies have started to offer bridging loans. Typically between a month to a year, these loans are short term, and are typically in place until you sell your home. Competitive business rates will be available if you own assets that are of interest to these companies, and due to the nature of the market, most of these services are on a case to case basis.

There are two different forms of bridging loans; open and closed. An open bridging loan is the less certain of the two. It’s typically used before you have been able to sell your property, and before the exchange of contracts. A closed bridging loan is used in cases where contracts have been signed and exchanged and the deal is almost certain to go ahead.

Having an exit strategy is imperative when considering a bridging loan because it is a short- term fix. However, this hasn’t stopped bridging loans rising in popularity. Bridging loans have seen a rise in sectors outside personal property. For buy-to-let property managers, this has become a viable option in helping them make quick moves on properties that become available in highly competitive areas. Because of the personalised nature of bridging loans they are almost always completed within a few days.

Whilst there are other financing methods available, and the bridging loan will require you to have a credible backup plan because of it’s short term nature, it is a realistic and speedy option, and one that has the potential to save you time and heartache!

]]>http://thecustomercollective.com/bridging-finance-option-property-chain/feed/01378What’s In Store For The User Friendly Ethereum Wallethttp://thecustomercollective.com/whats-store-user-friendly-ethereum-wallet/
http://thecustomercollective.com/whats-store-user-friendly-ethereum-wallet/#respondWed, 23 May 2018 22:51:16 +0000http://thecustomercollective.com/?p=916The most recent Go Ethereum (geth) with Homestead bolster is discharge 1.3.5 and the most recent C++ version of Ethereum (eth) with Homestead bolster is version 1.2.2. An expansive number of the Ethereum hubs have just been refreshed, however there are still some that are running more established versions of the software that are not prepared for the hardfork. The most recent authority Ethereum GUI Wallet with Homestead bolster is 0.5.2 (Beta 10), so in the event that you are utilizing it ensure you additionally have the most recent version installed keeping in mind the end goal to stay away from any conceivable issues related with the hardfork.

Options for the Wallet:

The wallet depends on geth (naturally) or the eth customer as a backend and gives an easy to understand interface with the most essential data and capacities accessible to the client without expecting him to sort comfort charges to execute them. The most recent version Ethereum Wallet 0.5.1 (Beta 9) is prepared for the up and coming Ethereum hard fork as the cryptographic money moves to the following period of its advancement called Homestead that is intended to happen at square 1150000 or at the end of the day in under 50 thousand blocks.

The Other Choices:

Among the choices for the user friendly ethereum wallet, The Ethereum GUI wallet can be utilized as another installation to kick you off with another wallet, it will begin with an easy well ordered manual for enable you to begin by creating another wallet and even import pre-deal wallet on the off chance that you have taken an interest in the pre-deal and still have not imported your coins. In the event that you as of now have a nearby wallet and were utilizing the geth or eth reassure customers, at that point you can utilize the GUI wallet with your current address and the blockchain information won’t should be re-downloaded as you as of now have it accessible locally and the GUI wallet will utilize it. It required some investment for the authority Ethereum GUI wallet to end up plainly accessible and to offer the usefulness clients required in an easy graphical UI, yet you can state that now, even idea still in beta, the GUI wallet works exceptionally well and makes it truly easy for new clients to get into Ethereum.

The Last Option:

The other user friendly ethereum wallet the authority Ethereum graphical wallet is enhancing and getting more easy to understand with each new beta discharge, making it simpler for individuals that are not extremely happy with the support just customers, for example, geth and eth. The wallet depends on geth (as a matter of course) or eth as a backend and gives an easy to use interface with the most imperative data and capacities accessible to the client without expecting him to sort reassure charges to execute them. The most recent Beta 6 discharge makes it less demanding to move down your wallet by including a menu charge that takes you specifically to the envelope where your wallet is being put away, so the main thing you have to do is to duplicate the document in a sheltered location. The new wallet accompanies a catch called Deposit utilizing Bitcoin that summons coordinated help for ShapeShift enabling you to effortlessly and rapidly purchase Ether coins and have them effectively exchanged to your Ethereum wallet.

You Got to Know this Also:

Another helpful new expansion is that the wallet will now indicate authentic costs from the season of the transaction on account of reconciliation with the CryptoCompare service, so you will comprehend what was the correct fiat estimation of the Ethereum transaction right now you have made it.

]]>http://thecustomercollective.com/whats-store-user-friendly-ethereum-wallet/feed/09164 Tips For Choosing The Best Home Construction Servicehttp://thecustomercollective.com/4-tips-choosing-home-construction-service/
http://thecustomercollective.com/4-tips-choosing-home-construction-service/#respondTue, 22 May 2018 10:17:39 +0000http://thecustomercollective.com/?p=754Building the home of your dreams is something that a lot of people work their entire lives in order to be able to do. When they finally reach the point where they are able to do it, it can be a very exciting milestone.

It is important to make sure that you put your construction needs into the right set of hands in order to make sure that the job is done properly and well. If you make the wrong choice in who you pay your services to you could end up losing a considerable amount of money and ending up with a poorly done job.

In order to make sure that you choose the right person to do the construction work, you will want to try the following tips when conducting your search for a construction service.

Ask Around With Friends And Family

The most dependable recommendations usually can be found with people that you know and trust. Before you look elsewhere for recommendations try asking your friends and family about what services they may have used in the past and had success with.

Social networking works great for situations like these. Posting a status update asking for recommendations in your area for a dependable home construction service should yield some pretty successful results quickly. You can ask whether they had the same work done that you are looking for and whether they recommend the company they used.

Check Out Online Reviews

Usually, sites such as Yelp are a great tool for seeing what the general reputation of a company is. If they are rated quite low you should definitely see this as a red flag. Try to read specifically what the issues were and identify if this is something that would be a deal breaker for you.

However, if you find companies that have a quite high rating don’t automatically assume that these are completely accurate. Often companies encourage people to post biased reviews which are not accurate. Try to make sure that they are verified reviews in order to avoid misinformation and potentially choosing a company which is unworthy.

Don’t Rush Into Anything

Even though you might be excited to get your home construction underway, there is no rush to start anything until you are absolutely sure that you have found the right person for the job.

Taking your time is usually the best way to ensure you don’t make hasty decisions which you will regret later and potentially cost you a lot of money.

Ask For Price Quotes Upfront

When shopping around with companies ask for a quote upfront so that you don’t get a surprise bill later which comes as a shock. It is perfectly acceptable to ask for an estimate of what they think it will cost you to achieve the things you would like done with them.

]]>http://thecustomercollective.com/4-tips-choosing-home-construction-service/feed/0754How to protect your images onlinehttp://thecustomercollective.com/protect-images-online/
http://thecustomercollective.com/protect-images-online/#respondTue, 22 May 2018 00:47:13 +0000http://thecustomercollective.com/?p=1374Whether you want to stop your professional photographs being published in a magazine without your consent, or you are keen to prevent your images being used in an online catfishing scam, it is worth knowing how you can best protect your images from theft.

Read everything

When sharing images on social networking sites, it is only too easy to skim past the terms and conditions and to go ahead and click accept. However, you could be giving the site the right to share and use your images in any way they see fit. Users do have more rights these days after there was a public backlash against some sites insisting on retaining full rights of any images uploaded to their sites, but it is wise to check before you place your images on a site.

Review your settings

Do you want the world to see you out partying with your friends at 3am, or would you prefer people like your boss didn’t have such a graphic insight into your social life? Firstly, be wary of what you post on line, and secondly, be careful about your online settings. If you would rather friends didn’t tag you in photos, make it so they can’t by clicking the appropriate setting. When you only want certain people to see specific images via your social network, again, review your settings and make sure they are precisely what you want them to be.

Sharing permissions

If you are sharing your images in a professional capacity on a site such as Flickr, make sure you have set the sharing permissions to a setting you are comfortable with. You can state that the image is not to be used in any capacity, can be used as is without any alteration with credit to you, or can be downloaded and edited by the user on the condition that credit is given to you.

Store them safely

If photography is your career, or you require a huge amount of storage, chances are you will be using a photo hosting site. When choosing the right photo hosting site for your needs, always ensure they are reputable and secure. The site you select may depend on how much storage space you require, and other vital factors, so it is worth exploring your options via a site such as Virtualphotographystuio.com that has a feature all about the Best Image Hosting Sites.

Watermarking

When sending samples of your work you could simply place a watermark on your image. There are some that dislike this old-fashioned method of protection as it draws attention away from the actual image. However when designed well, the right watermark can enhance an image while ensuring viewers know it belongs to you.

Taking steps to protect your images when they are stored, and when they are shared, can save you an incredible amount of frustration in the long term. Use these tips to ensure your images don’t appear anywhere you don’t want them to.

In common language, a property consisting of land and buildings is termed as real estate. Along with the land and the buildings; real estate also includes the natural resources present on that very property.

Majority of the entrepreneurs and the investors own multiple portions of real estate which they have kept to produce income from rent as well as good amount of profits as and when the price of the particular piece of real estate increases in the market.

If you have a significant amount of additional income and are looking to invest your money then there is not a better option than real estate due to a variety of reasons which are elaborated below:

Why should you invest in Real Estate?

You can get better returns as compared to the traditional stock market.

When you invest in stock market and buy shares of a certain company; you are always at a risk of losing your amount and facing losses as the traditional stock market is highly volatile in nature. The share of a certain company which might be giving good returns one day can turn upside down in a matter of seconds. However, this is not the case with the investment made in real estate. The more amount of time you hold your real estate investment the percentage of loss or risk involved is minimized. As and when there is an improvement or appreciation in the market the same happens with your real estate investment.

Hence, for the investment made in real estate; you are always having greater control as you can capitalize your investment and generate revenue through a variety of modes and at the same time you will be receiving the benefit of capital appreciation. Moreover, numerous real estate insurance programs are present to provide a cover for your investment under unforeseen circumstances. This is unlike the traditional stock market in which you are not having any sort of control over innumerable factors and are always at a risk of losing your entire investment.

You can invest in real estate even without purchasing a property.

If you want to invest in real estate, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to purchase a property. You can opt for investing in real estate investment trusts or REITs. REITs can be, actually, termed as the mutual funds of real estate comprising a simple collection of properties owned by a company who takes money from various individual investors to develop that part of real estate. Later on, the investors are paid in the form of dividends, exactly similar to any other funds.

This way you can enjoy the benefits of real estate investment without, actually, having to burn a hole in your pocket.

Real estate always has value

If you have a piece of land or a building; at any point in time; a particular value will always be present for your possession. This is, again, unlike stock market in which the value of your shareholdings can even dip down to zero and you could end up suffering a complete loss.

Investing in real estate spreads or diversifies the risk

If you are investing in different regions then you are actually spreading your risk over various investments that you are making rather than concentrating on a single piece of investment. Real estate is always considered a safe investment which takes care of the risks that might be arising from your other areas of investments.

Value of your real estate investment will grow over time

It is a fact that more amount of time you are in possession of your real estate investment; the more amounts of bucks you will generate out of it.

If you have purchased a property in a far-flung area then history is the witness that every far-flung area has become a nearby zone as a result of development. Whenever any kind of development around your property will happen; the prices are bound to skyrocket. In fact, many people have, actually, made millions by just investing in real estate itself.

Conclusion:

Hence, if you are thinking of investing your funds; go with real estate as apart from being a safe and secured piece of investment; it can generate a good amount of peace and delight in your life.

]]>http://thecustomercollective.com/top-reasons-invest-real-estate/feed/01372Tips For Choosing The Best Lawyerhttp://thecustomercollective.com/tips-choosing-lawyer/
http://thecustomercollective.com/tips-choosing-lawyer/#respondSun, 20 May 2018 22:00:33 +0000http://thecustomercollective.com/?p=871Looking for a lawyer can be something which can be overwhelming for someone that has never had to do it before. Not being sure of what to look for or what kind of prices are expected for paying a lawyer are normal hesitations the first time.

Choosing the best possible lawyer for your case is ideal. If you choose a lawyer which isn’t a good fit you could not only find yourself frustrated and without a lack of support in your legal case, but you may find yourself poorly informed and lose your case altogether.

In order to find the best possible lawyer for the job, you should try the following strategies.

Ask For Recommendations in Your Social Circle

One of the best things to do is tell your friends that you are looking to hire a lawyer, and ask whether anyone you know has someone that they recommend. Usually, first hand recommendations are ideal over online recommendations since you know the source personally.

You may be surprised to find that you not only find plenty of recommendations but you also may just have some friends that you didn’t even know were lawyers. These friends may be able to advise you free of charge and point you in the best direction of who to hire for your case.

Make Sure They Have Strong Online Reviews

Once you have asked around about personal recommendations in your circle you should move onto a lawyer’s online reputation. If you see a lot of negative feedback and specific complaints you should definitely take this as a red flag.

Looking at places like Yelp will help give you an idea of how happy the past clients of a lawyer were. Make sure that you read the reviews with a logical and subjective point of view. Often reviewers can get overly emotional and exaggerate circumstances. By carefully looking over everything intelligently you will be able to make an educated assessment of their overall work quality.

Ask Upfront About Pricing

Don’t be afraid to ask any potential lawyers about what their prices are. You should ask what their total estimate is for your case and how much they will need up front. Some lawyers vary in their payment schedules and pricing so asking these things isn’t unreasonable.

Make Sure They Have Experience With Your Type Of Case

It is important to know that the lawyer you are looking to hire has experience dealing with a case like yours before. You shouldn’t take the risk of putting your case into the hands of someone who has no experience.

Make sure that you ask specifics and whether they feel confident about their knowledge regarding your case’s circumstances.

]]>http://thecustomercollective.com/tips-choosing-lawyer/feed/0871Why Gift Cards Are the Best Giftshttp://thecustomercollective.com/gift-cards-gifts/
http://thecustomercollective.com/gift-cards-gifts/#respondSat, 19 May 2018 21:27:38 +0000http://thecustomercollective.com/?p=751While some people think that gift cards are bad choice for gifts because they are impersonal or cheap, there are a lot of people out there who do not buy this argument. Rather, they consider gift cards as one of the best gifts. We belong to the second category of people.

Reasons That Make Gift Cards Perfect Gifts for Everyone and Every Occasion

Be it the birthday of your best friend, wedding anniversary of your parents, or you want to give your employee a token of appreciation, gift cards are perfect for everyone and every occasion.

Take a look at the following major reasons that make us (and many other people out there) say just that:

· Freedom of Choice

Gift cards are not only handy, they give the recipients a liberty to choose a gift that they like or need, saving you from the trouble and anxiety with regard to finding the right thing.

· Economical

Gift cards allow you to stay in your budget and even save money. Many big stores, especially the online stores, offer discounts and deals on gift card purchases. Do little search and you are likely to find a really good gift card deal on internet. To avoid scams, always buy cards from reputable and trusted websites.

· They are Thoughtful

Rather than giving a dress to someone whose cupboard is already filled with numerous branded dresses, it will be really thoughtful to buy them something that they really need. This could be a spa gift card, if you know the person is under stress or remains so busy that they hardly get time to relax. You can also get them a gift card for a dinner at the restaurant they have long been thinking to go to, a mobile top-up card to someone who is broke, gift card for a book or movie store or a ticket to a local theme park – choices are endless. Gift cards are an ideal holiday gift for children and adults alike.

· They Are Great For Rewarding Your Employees

Are you an employer and want to reward your hard working employees for their determination and dedication?

There could be nothing better than gift cards. To avoid the hassle of searching for gift cards every now and then, register on a reliable website that offers wide variety of e-Gift cards; Global Reward Solutions is a company you can blindly trust.

There are very few companies like Global Rewards Solutions that offer a wide array of rewards. The broad categories of rewards offered by the Global Rewards Solutions include vacations and travel, merchandise, media, mobile top up, event tickets, and a large variety of gift cards (both virtual and physical). The platform is surely a one stop solution for all your business rewards needs.

]]>http://thecustomercollective.com/gift-cards-gifts/feed/0751Signs You Need to Repair Your Windowshttp://thecustomercollective.com/signs-repair-windows/
http://thecustomercollective.com/signs-repair-windows/#respondFri, 18 May 2018 21:01:33 +0000http://thecustomercollective.com/?p=909Windows are an important part of any home as they help to give your home its own unique personality and spark. Windows are an excellent way to bring in natural light into your home and can help to reduce your energy costs effectively. However, over time windows start to deteriorate due to wear and tear, harsh sunlight, moisture in the air and poor maintenance. All you need to do is look for these four signs that your windows need repairs and a little rejuvenation.

Crumbling or Rotting Window Frames

Having wooden window frames provides your homes with a wonderful look and feel that can’t be faked. Rotting and crumbling wooden window frames is one of the biggest tell-tale signs that your windows need repairs. Wooden window frames can take on a big toll when it comes to the outside elements, especially moisture. The wood can begin to warp, making them difficult to open, and some wood may even begin to crumble away as a result. If rotten wooden window frames are left for too long, the entire frame may need to be replaced, so if you notice any rot, it’s important to get on it right away.

Stubborn Windows

Windows that are difficult to open or close may have broken hardware inside their latches or hinges. Windows should open without any effort, but if this is not the case then you may need to get repairs on the window. This is quite easy to check around the house, just go from window to window in your home and open and close each one to see if they both open and close easily.

Unexplained Energy Bills

If your heating or cooling bills are suddenly higher for no particular reason, your windows may be “leaking” heat or cool air. Checking this is easier to do in winter; if you stand by the window and its colder there than anywhere else or the glass is cold when you touch it, your windows need a repair. Using a candle to check for holes between the glass and frame is easy to find where the problem is. Hold the candle and move it slowly around the edge to see where it flickers, this will be the source of the draft.

Condensation

Condensation builds up in between window panes when the seals on the windows are broken or improperly installed. This problem is most common in double-pane windows which are great for decreasing heating and cooling bills. Condensation is a sign that the seal in the window unit is damaged and needs to be repaired soon.

If you have noticed any of these kinds of damage to your windows, it’s time to get them repaired before they need to be replaced. At Apex Window Werks, we specialize in these and many other types of wood window and window glass repairs and replacement. We have a dedicated and professional team of technicians who are trained to handle all of your window needs. Contact us today for a quote and we’ll help you get your windows and home looking beautiful once again.

Design a list or spreadsheet that specifies all the tasks that you’ll need to complete. Note their urgency, approximate time needed until completion as well as their due date. From here you can organise your working day. By doing this exercise, you will get a sense of how to organise your workload to ensure that the most urgent items will be actioned first. For larger, long term goals be sure to factor in enough small periods to chip away at them rather than waiting until they become urgent.

If your list makes you realise the amount of work you have in a set period won’t be possible to complete, set aside time to devote to the most pressing issues and provide a status update to those waiting on your work. As long as others can see a task is progressing, it can be a shorter term way to manage a full workload until you can clear it.

In many jobs, there will certain times where your workload’s at a hectic level, so having well developed habits will enable you to get through a seemingly endless to-do list a lot more efficiently.

Review your environment

Once you’re organised on paper, set up your workspace to facilitate the most efficient means to complete your tasks. Laying resources out in the order that you’ll require them will save time. This is still achievable in a small or customer facing workstation, but you may need to be more clever with storing items in discrete areas until they’re required in order to avoid clutter. By checking off all the materials you’ll require to manage a task,you’ll have a chance to chase up outstanding input from others before you need it and have to wait around for their contributions.

If you work from home and find your environment is too distracting, whether it be noise or the dishes piling up encouraging you to procrasti-clean, it may be time to consider looking at offices for lease or a co-working space so you can work in a more disciplined manner. Likewise, if you’re in a noisy office, book quiet meeting rooms or wear noise cancelling headphones when needed to minimise distractions.

Know thyself

Some people work best on detail intensive tasks first thing in the morning, while others need to ease into the day and start with routine admin. Whatever your style is,ensure that it meets the needs of your work load to maximise the amount that you can achieve at work. There is little point slaving away editing a large document mid-afternoon if you typically find yourself a little drowsy after lunch.

So cross compare with your list mentioned in point 1 to schedule the completion of work tasks in matter of urgency, but also to suit how you work best.

Use technology

Having google at your fingertips is sometimes as curse when events, lol cats and checking the news turns a 5 minute glance into a 45 minute break.Being human, we all need time out to refresh our brains, so instead of banning all extra-curricular phone or internet use at work, set some parameters around how you will utilise them. Many people swear by the Pomodoro technique for time management which will see you working in 25 minute bursts followed by brief 3-5 minute breaks. After 4 or so 25 minute cycles, you will have earned a longer break.

If you can’t stick to something like this, there are several apps and desktop plugins that will lock your computer for specific tasks for a predetermined time.

]]>http://thecustomercollective.com/4-increase-productivity-work/feed/0743Is Online Poker Legal in the US?http://thecustomercollective.com/online-poker-legal-us/
http://thecustomercollective.com/online-poker-legal-us/#respondThu, 17 May 2018 20:45:19 +0000http://thecustomercollective.com/?p=419Got questions about online poker? You’re not the only one. Ever since the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, the practise of playing poker online has shifted into something of a grey area in legal terms – not helped by the fact that different laws apply in different states. This is a brief guide covering not just the pros and cons of legalizing online poker, but also quickly delving into its history. Hopefully we’ll answer some of the basic questions you might have regarding the online version of America’s favourite card game, its history and current legal status.

Is online poker legal?

Yes and no – depending on the state in which you reside. Online poker is forbidden unless you live in New Jersey, Nevada or Delaware (and even then, only certain poker sites are legal).

Has online poker ever been legal in the US?

Yes. The first online poker site was launched in 1998, and then the industry started to boom around 2003 following the so-called ‘Moneymaker effect’. Online poker was a multi-billion dollar business; immensely popular with people from all over the states. Chris Moneymaker, champion of the 2003 World Series of Poker event, won his buy-in to the WSOP tournament through an online PokerStars satellite. Americans looked at Chris Moneymaker, the young amateur player with a $2.5 million win, and thought to themselves “why not me?”. In other words, online poker exploded in popularity and numerous online poker sites operated from within the states at this time.

The Federal Wire Act of 1961 was a law pertaining to gambling and which prohibited some forms of betting in the US. It was ruled, however, that online poker was permitted under this law. It wasn’t until 2006 that the Bush administration introduced the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), effectively criminalizing all forms of online gambling – including poker. The act required online gambling companies in the US to take their business elsewhere and to seize operation in the US. These companies were also required to comply with the measures listed in the Act for preventing Americans from unlawfully playing online.

Many of the main online gambling companies did indeed comply – going abroad and giving up their American market (resulting, of course, in huge revenue losses). Other companies, such as PokerStars, remained operational in the states, claiming that the Act did not apply to them as poker was not a real form of gambling.

As such, the US District Court launched a federal case against PokerStars and two other big poker sites that remained operational following the UIGEA. The case is known as United States vs Scheinberg. Not only were the founders of these companies accused of breaking this particular law – they were also charged with bank fraud and money laundering. The day the founders were indicted has since become known in the poker world as ‘Black Friday’.

Between 2011 and 2013, the states of New Jersey, Delaware and Nevada decriminalized online poker thanks to state-level lobbying. The matter of online poker remains a state issue.

What is the punishment for unlawful online gambling?

Providing individual players are not depositing on poker sites with aid of illegal acts such as identify theft or fraud, then they are not typically sought out by law enforcement. Those found to be illegally playing poker online may face a fine. The attention, however, is usually on targeting the online poker operators. Running an unlawful online poker room is a serious crime with serious punishment.

Will online poker become legal in the near future?

There are already talks of legalizing online poker in California and New York. Though there is some strong advocacy for legalizing the game, and many proposed bills waiting to be processed, the past couple of years has seen a lot of stalling. Overall, progress is slow, but poker fans remain hopeful that the online game will become legal in both states very soon.

Many predict this will have an effect on other states’ legislation too, as it could trigger a wave of legalization bills across the US. Right now, it’s too early to say whether that will be the case.

What makes online poker different from other forms of online gambling?

You might be wondering why talks of legalizing online poker does not also extend to other forms of online betting. Poker is unique in the gambling world because of its focus on skill over luck. Though an element of chance plays a strong role in any poker game’s outcome, strategy, odds calculation and psychology are more important when it comes to playing professionally. This is clearly evident when looking at professional players who win consistently, as well as through the fact that artificial intelligence can be programmed to beat humans at the game. The fact that poker can be seen as a ‘skill game’ rather than merely a game of luck is one of the key arguments from those advocating the game’s legalization.

What are the benefits of legalizing online poker?

The most obvious benefit is an economic one. Though online poker is no longer the immensely popular game it was a decade ago, the industry still makes millions of dollars that states could be capitalizing on. Government-imposed taxes and licensing fees for online poker companies would give a boost to the economy.

Secondly, legalizing online poker will allow state or federal governments to better regulate the industry. This will make online poker safer for players, as there will be stronger scam prevention, as well as government verified (ie trusted) sites to choose between. Another possible benefit is the fact that decriminalizing online poker might make some gambling addicts feel more comfortable in seeking help for their problem.

What are the downsides of legalizing online poker?

Many are concerned about online poker addiction, arguing that some people who may never have been interested in playing online poker could start to play following decriminalization, only to develop a serious addiction. Like many forms of gambling, poker can attract undisciplined thrill-seekers who spend too much money on bets. Others may advocate against legalizing online poker simply from a moral standpoint, as gambling is not regarded as something which benefits society. One could argue that money spent on gambling could be put to much better use elsewhere. Indeed, many religions teach us that gambling is an activity fueled by financial greed and self-indulgence.

The USA’s history with online poker is complex – to say the least. Though it is likely that laws surrounding online poker will relax over the next few years, it’s difficult to say exactly what the future holds when it comes to this particular form of internet betting. Clearly, there are both pros and cons of legalizing the game, resulting in divisive standpoints and heated debate amongst lawmakers on both ends.